Hawaiian guitar

American  

noun

1. a six-to-eight-string electric guitar, fretted with a piece of metal or bone to produce a whining, glissando sound, played in a horizontal position usually resting on the performer's knees or on a stand, and much used by country music performers.

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Hawaiian guitar British  

noun

1. a lap-held steel-strung guitar with a wood or metal body, tuned to an open chord and played with a slide Compare Dobro pedal steel guitar

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Etymology

Origin of Hawaiian guitar

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The venue books acts like the Japanese pianist Keiko Matsui and the Hawaiian guitar virtuoso Willie K, and offers stage time to emerging local musicians.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2018

Their mother, a waitress, played the Hawaiian guitar, while their father worked at a Whitewater service station where the radio was tuned to country and western, pop and, on Saturday nights, the WGN “Barn Dance.”

From Washington Times • May 19, 2018

His father, an accountant and businessman, played Hawaiian guitar and accordion.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2018

A year and a half ago, Brozman told him he was unable to play Hawaiian guitar.

From The Guardian • Apr. 28, 2013

She is the possessor of some very rare and interesting foreign instruments; among this collection is a Hawaiian guitar, the tiniest of stringed instruments, and also one of curious Portuguese workmanship.

From Polly Oliver's Problem by Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith

Related Words

• acoustic guitar